Cartridge containing gas-generating chemical



Sept. 21 1926'.

' B. C. G055 CARTRIDGE CONTAINING GAS GENERATING CHEMICAL Filed March 29, 1926 lmvenfar: ran 6'- @085,

Patented Sept. 21, 1,926.

PATENT FICE BYRON c. eoss, or crnvnmnn, onto.

CARTRIDGE CONTAINING GAS-GENERATING CHEMICAL.

Application iiled March 29, 1926. Serial No. 98,270.

This invention relates to cartridges and the like for fire-arms containing gas-generating chemicals as the disabling agent, the gas being. of that class which temporarily i disables all persons within its sphere of influence, without causing permanent injury.

An object of the invention is to provide a means whereby a quantity of the gas may be projected towards an object and gas generated instantly, at a particular place, v 'A further object is to provide a cartridge containing a suflicient quantity of an immecliately dlspersable gas-generating chemical associated with an igniting or heat and pressuregenerating ex losive powder, such as black powder, smo eless powder, .'etc., and a suitable primer.

A rther object is to provide a means where y police ofiicers and the like will be enabled to temporarily disable groups of criminals without exposing-f themselves to danger, the gas fumes from discharged "cartridges spreading around corners in rooms,

etc.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 illustrates in section a cartridge, a primer in the cap, and surrounded with a suitable propellent powder such as a layer of black powder, or smokeless powder, and above this the charge of mixed powder and gas-generating chemical, the cartridges being suitably sealed;

Fi ure 2 illustrates in section a similar cartridge but with the mixed powder and gas-generating chemical filling the entire cartridge, the powder being in increasing percentage around the primer;

Figure illustrates in section a further modification in which the mixture is uniform throughout the cartridge, and in which a larger primer is used;

Figure 4 illustrates in section a cartridge resembling Figure 1, except that the gas generating chemical is not mixed with powder; and

Figure 5 illustrates a cartridge generally similar to Figure 1, but containing a liquid charge instead of a solid charge of chemical.

In Fi .Q 1 the cartridge shell 1 is provided w$thb usualprimer 2, the latter projecting into a layer 3, of black powder, smQkeless powder, or other suitable heat and pressure generating and igniting agent. Above the layer of powder 3 is the charge 4 of mixed gas-generating chemical, and

powder. Above the charge is a layer 5, of and or the like, and above this is a film or layer 601: a suitable water-proof material, such as wax, bakelite, varnish, etc.

The cartridge in Figure 2 resembles that 111 Figure 1, except that the gas-generating chemical is also mixed with the powder surrounding the primer, the percentage progressively decreasing from that in the charge 8, above the primer, zero, at the cap 9.

The cartridge in Figure 3 contains a uniform mixture of powder and gas-generating chemical 10, throughout; it may be provided with a longer primer 11, to ignite the charge further in the cartridge.

The cartridge in Figure 4 contains powder 15, and a gas-generated chemical 16 in aontact therewith but not-mixed with pow- The cartridges may be made 'in several sizes, to fit the standard sizes of small arms, and also shot-guns. The primer may be covered with black owder, or other powder, as illustrated in Figure 1, or with a graduated mixture of powder and chemical as in Figure 2, or with the charge mixture, as in Figure 3. The charge mixture 4 may consist of one part by weight of\ finely divided black powder to'three parts by weight of a finely divided gas-generating chemical, for exto practically I ample, chloracetophenone, both thoroughly.

ferred mixture consisting of about twentyfive percent smokeless powder and about seventy-five percent of gas-generating chemical. Instead of the chloracetophenone, other as-generating chemicals, either solids, or lquids, as at 12, Figure 5, separated from the black powder 13 by a wad 14:, may be .used. Such other chemicals are benzyl- "ther bromide, bromo-acetone, chloromethylchloroformate, etc. In the case of liquids the explosion of the powder generates sufficient heat and pressure to project, spray and vaporize the liquid as it is discharged from the pistol, or gun, so that a mass of rapidly expanding vapor, like a cone of smoke and as, leaves the gun, the liquid being volati ized by the heat generated by the combustion of the powder. In the case of solid chemicals the combustion of the intermixed powder through the charge raises the temperature of the chemical to the volatilizing point, so that it also is projected from the pistol as a cone shaped mass of rapidly expanding smoke and gas, in both cases, the generation of gas continuing after the charge leaves the pistol by the continued combustion of the powder. The expanding gas is projected a distance of from twenty to twenty-five feet from the pistol, and with larger cartridges may be pro'ected still further. When a cartridge is s ot into a room, or through a key hole,

or under a door, or through any other crevice, the gas generating mixture with an explosive charge is projected into the exact space where we want the as generated, the expanding gas rapidly iling every part of the room, making it unnecessary to aim the shot at any special object. The use of black powder generates smoke and indicates the direction and location of the gas. All persons in the room are at once temporarily disabled by the gas fumes, from which recovery takes place soon after leaving the aseous atmosphere. If a person should he 3 0t directly in the face w1th the gas, it is probable that instant blindness would result due to the extreme pain and irritation of the eyes, causing extreme, lachrymation, as well as sneezing and coughing. If shot into a room of twenty feet y twenty feet, (or even a much larger room) it would be impossible for some time for any one to enter or to remain in the room without being disabled by the fumes. After a lapse of a short period, persons equipped w1th gas masks may enter and capture disabled persons. The cartridges may be made in pocket by police,and others, for use in such pistols as the regularl carry.

As noted a ove, on t e discharge, of a pistol loaded with one of the cartridges of this invention, the gas-generating chemical immediatel begins to violently liberate gas and is at the same time instantly projected by the charge of powder to the desired objective, as in the case of a solid bullet, the chemical continuing to violently liberate the gas during its flight across the space,

e y leaving a trail locating its passage, and violently liberating the remainder of its gas upon its arrival at its objective.

gas and also instantly projected to the desired ob'ective while gas is being violently liberate the remaining gas being violently liberated at the objective. If two persons were on opposite sides of a room about twenty-five feet apart, one armed with my invention and the other armed with one of the known gas-generating devices now in use, and each fired the cartridge at a signal from an umpire, the one armed with my invention would instantly disable his opponent without discomfort to himself and would be able to leave the room safely before the gas from the opponentls cartridge spread across the room. The gasgenerating chemical in m invention takes the place of a bullet in t e cartridge with the further advantage ,of beginning the violent generation of gas while it is still in the barrel of the pistol, and continuing to violently discharge the gas until it is er.- hausted after reaching its objective.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is 1. A cartridge for fire-arms containing a primer, a propellent powder, and an immediately dispersable' gas-generating chemical, said chemical arranged to be projected and immediately dis ersed by the released energy of the pro eilent powder upon the firing of the cartri ge.

2. A cartridge for small fire-arms containing a primer, a propellent powder adjacent said primer, a fuming, blinding, and disabling gas-generating chemical intimately mixed with a portion of said powder and in direct contact with the powder adjacent the primer, and a moisture-proof .seal closing said cartridge. several slzes, and may be carried 1n the 3. A cartridge for'small fire-arms containing a primer, a propellent powder adjacent said primer, 9. gas-generating chemical intimately mixed with a portion of said powder, and in direct contact with the powder adjacent the primer, said mixed gasgenerating chemical and powder consisting of about three-fourths of chemical and onefourth of powder, and a moisture-proof seal closing sa1d cartridge.

4. A cartridge comprising chemical and sufficient explosive propelling powder for the violent generation and instant delivery of a fuming, blinding, and disabling gas in a dense state on a desired spot about eooaas fifteen to twenty or more feet from the gas at the objective, the transportation and point of discharge when fired from a firedelivery of said fuming gas at the objective arm, the charge in said cartridge starting being independent of external forces of air 19 the evolution of said fuming gas Within currents or difl'usion.

5 the fire-arm, and propelled to its objective In testimony whereof I hereby afix my While fuming by the associated propellant signature. and completing the evolution of the fuming BYRON C. GOSS. 

